by CRA

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27 Mar 2009

HRM Council Performance Mixed Among Residents

HALIFAX: Although the majority of residents in the Halifax Regional Municipality are at least mostly satisfied with the overall performance of the Regional Council, ratings of specific performance areas are decidedly mixed, particularly in regards to traffic congestion and the condition of roads, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates, Inc. Specifically, the majority of HRM citizens are satisfied with the performance of the Council under the leadership of Mayor Peter Kelly (66%), and only one-quarter are dissatisfied (24%). Dissatisfaction is higher in Halifax and Dartmouth, compared with those in Bedford/Sackville or the remaining parts of the municipality.

Citizens were asked to rate the Council’s performance in dealing with a number of issues. With the exception of crime and public safety (59% offering a rating of exceptionally good or quite good), opinions regarding performance in dealing with other issues are mixed or skew negatively. Under one-half of residents believe the Council performs well in terms of public transportation (46%), while four in ten (40%) offer negative ratings in this regard. Council’s performance in dealing with downtown development also receives a mixed assessment, with 44 percent offering a favourable rating and 41 percent believing performance in this area is poor.

Finally, three areas receive significantly less positive ratings. Just over one-third believe the Council is adequately dealing with property taxes (36% offering a rating of good, while 44% believe performance has been quite poor or exceptionally poor). Fifty-six percent of citizens rate the Council poorly in regards to dealing with traffic congestion, while three-quarters (74%) of citizens believe the Council is doing a poor job in dealing with the conditions of street and roads in the municipality.

These results are part of the CRA Halifax Urban Report, an independent survey of Halifax Regional Municipality residents. The results are based on a sample of 407 adult residents (18 years plus), conducted from February 3 to February 17, 2009, with results accurate to within +4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.

For more information, please contact: Don Mills, President and CEO at (902) 722-3100.

Would you say the Council’s performance has been exceptionally good, quite good, quite poor, or exceptionally poor in dealing with…..

Issue

% saying exceptionally good/quite good

% saying quite poor/exceptionally poor

% saying

don’t know/no answer

Crime and public safety

59%

33%

8%

Public transportation

46%

40%

14%

Downtown development

44%

41%

15%

Property taxes

36%

44%

20%

Traffic congestion

36%

56%

8%

Condition of streets and roads

24%

74%

2%

How satisfied are you with the performance of the recently elected regional council under the leadership of Mayor Peter Kelly? Are you completely satisfied, mostly satisfied, mostly dissatisfied, or completely dissatisfied?